In today's day and age we are working longer hours, not getting enough sleep and turning to coffee and sugar to push through the exhaustion. Only to wake up the next day and do it all over again. This my friend, is a recipe for burnout.

Burnout otherwise known as adrenal fatigue, is a chronic negative response caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion and occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to cope with the constant demands of life.

As a naturopath, I see a lot of women and their partners looking for a quick and easy way to enhance and better their chances for fertility. Unfortunately, the bad news is there’s no ‘quick fix’. But the good news? There are a number of ways to increase your chances of falling pregnant.

It’s important to understand that every single aspect of the body is connected, and oftentimes in the most unexpected of ways. From our diets and the stress we feel at work, to the environment we live our day to day lives in, every part of our lifestyle has a fundamental effect on our wellbeing.

But with so much confusing or conflicting information in the health industry today, how can you be sure you’re doing the right thing, especially when it comes to preparing your body for pregnancy?

Let me show you five ways you can enhance your fertility and overall wellbeing by making a few simple changes to your diet and lifestyle:

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a common health condition experienced by up to 75% of women of reproductive age. PMS is a group of symptoms, both physical and emotional, experienced by a woman in the two weeks leading up to menstruation, also known as the luteal phase. With symptoms usually subsiding shortly after menstruation begins.  

In some cases PMS can develop into premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a more severe form of PMS, effecting about 3-6 % of women. PMDD be so debilitating that it impacts one's quality of life. Women who have had major depression are more at risk than others to experience PMDD.

Magnesium is one of my favourite nutrients.

I fist became acquainted with magnesium back when I was a first year naturopath student. 

I used to consume coffee like it was going out of fashion in order to get me through assignments, deadlines and full time work. Until that is, I learned about magnesium.

You see coffee consumption actually works against the body when we are stressed, not only does it increase the excretion of B vitamins required to help combat stress, but it also triggers cortisol release.

There are many different causes for hair loss through out life, such as post childbirth or through menopause for women and most men will lose some hair by the time they reach adulthood. But while some hair loss is considered normal, excessive prolonged loss is not. 

Of the many health conditions that can cause excessive hair loss and thinning, thyroid conditions are one of the most common. Severe and unmanaged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can both result in hair loss, thinning or even balding. 

You have most likely heard of the Gut brain Axis, referring to the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system (brain) and the enteric nervous system (gut), linking emotional and cognitive centres of the brain with peripheral intestinal function. But do you know much about the Vagus nerve that’s responsible for connecting them?

The vagus nerve aka the “wandering nerve” is a multi branched nerve that extends from the cerebellum in the brain down to the lowest viscera of the abdomen, reaching out to the heart and other organs on the way down. It is this nerve that is responsible for the communication between the gut and the brain.